Spring Thaw - 2026!

St. Lawrence River Front - Mid-February

Tidings All ~ Spring 2026 has arrived! (Sort of.) - Time to catch-up!

My garage area - Mid-March 

 From November to mid-March, I hunkered down like most into a typical Canadian winter. There was a lot - (and I mean, a LOT!) - of snow in Eastern Ontario this year. 

While stunningly picturesque at times, it also made local travel often treacherous and difficult.

So, I hunkered down and hibernated. 

... I wasn't completely isolated - or comatose ...

There were several things I had to sort in my library: older 'mlhpro/APC' files, a myriad of mum's family photos, and the paper remnants of dad's 'woodworking studio'. 

Stoneacres, circa 1980s

Those tasks took a lot longer than I'd planned, particularly in the photo department where I was often at a loss remembering who-was-who and what-images-were-taken-where - by mum - so long ago ... 

Still, all rather fun to review older photos of family fun at our centuries-old farm home, Stoneacres, (now sold.) 

 ... Found this lovely shot, when the Persian lilacs were in bloom ... 

I also took numerous outdoor breaks to shovel snow (-!!!-) and I even attempted some x-country skiing down to the river and back. Sadly, my left boot ripped open at the toes after several runs. 

X-Country Skiing through the backwoods down to the river, and yup, the 2025 Dominoes Trophy.

[Sidebar: The ski conditions were PERFECT this past winter! (-IYKYK!-)] - Plus, my goodly neighbour and I had regular Sunday domino matches. I won the 2025 cup. (She's held it for the past two years.) All in all, I was perfectly content to be holed-up in my wee stone house: I do love my new home.

Next up was the resurrection of an older project that's been sitting in my writing box for well over a decade. (Think of a naturalistic 'Alice in Wonderland'- meets -'Anne of Green Gables'.) 

Originally intended as an illustrated children's story, I have re-aligned with the talented graphic artist, Paul Schultz. (He assisted with the print materials for my short 26-minute film, The Frozen Goose, way back when.) 

Before Paul could get underway, I had to revise and rewrite much of the story and then insert thumbnail sketches where I thought the images might best work to amplify the tale. 

MLH Thumbnails and a long ago Preliminary Illustration for Children's Story by MLHolton

After a month or so of back-and-forth, I'm thrilled to say Paul is now well underway. We're in full production mode now, and, with luck, it should be releasing under my Acorn Press Canada imprint in the fall of 2026.  The working title  ....  RIVER WALK - by yours truly :) --- Illustrated by Paul. - It should be good. Watch for it! And you'll hear more about it later.

Once that project was off the decks, I settled into a new New Year's undertaking ... For most of my 50-odd years as a practising Canadian artist, I've avoided ever attempting 'watercolour painting' - why? because that was always 'mum's thing'. Now, with dear old mum gone, I'm slowly exploring the discipline ... I am discovering painting with the translucence of watercolours demands a completely different mind-set than painting with opaque acrylics or oils . (Of course, both these mediums can be 'cut', though I've seldom done that with either medium.)

2026 Sample watercolours by MLHolton - Still LEARNING ... 

I'm very intrigued how the 'water-on-paper' dynamics work. I'm also hopelessly impatient waiting for any applied washes to dry ... (I've not resorted to the commonly-used hair-dryer, yet!) - I do rush, then pause, then over-work ... arg!! - It's definitely a challenge to find the working rhythm that best matches my own temperament. 

I can also see, repeatedly, why it is a preferred medium for so many. When it does work  - by accident or design - the results can be most satisfying. Watercolours lure you in so that you want to try & try again ... I've been doing just that for the past month and a half ... with one major side-jump to this large 26"square painting ... 'Sunrise Over Anchorage Bay, St.Lawrence River, 2026'. (NFS). - I think it turned out rather well. It's now framed and hanging over my fireplace.

Sunrise Over Anchorage Bay, St.Lawrence River (P.29.No.1) by MLHolton

Now, at the start of April 2026, with the last piles of snow gushing off to the St.Lawrence River, the Grand Melt is on. Snowdrops and daffodils are TRYING to erupt here after this long winter. We're not quite there yet, BUT, it's trying ... even if more snow is predicted for NEXT week on top of a good dose of freezing rain in the next few days ... Ah! Winter in Canada!

Until all that passes through, I'm still hunkered down - 

Happy Spring Everyone. We've ALMOST made it!! ;)  

Until next time - 
Margaret Lindsay Holton

Canadian Artist & Author 

Writing from The Gate House in Elizabethtown, Eastern Ontario, Canada 

p.s. With a shout-out of thanks to those who remembered: yup, the ol' gal hits 71 this weekend!

MLH in Georgian Bay, circa 1960s, THANKS MUM.